by Cathryn Fox
He stretched her open and slipped another finger in. He leaned over her and put his mouth near her ear. His breath was hot, ragged on her neck when he whispered, “If it hurts, tell me and I’ll stop.”
He pulled his fingers out and positioned his cock. His crown breached her opening and she gripped the sheets. Luke’s hands closed over hers and held her tight. He remained still, giving her time to adjust.
“You okay, sunshine?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I can keep going?” He ran his hands along her sides, sweeping the outer edge of her breasts. His touch was commanding, yet soft, each furtive brush triggering a craving inside her unlike anything she’d ever before experienced. God she wanted this, wanted him.
She nodded and wiggled against him, encouraging him to take her…everywhere.
He leaned back over her, his hands gripping hers once again. “Fuck, baby, don’t do that.”
She grinned, loving the way he was losing it. As he fell over her, his weight pressing her into the mattress, the sheets felt rough against her breasts. She moved against the linen, stimulating her taut nipples.
“Fuck.” He let go of her hand, and gave her a smack on the side of her ass. “Cut it out,” he growled and pushed another inch inside.
It stung at first, but as soon as she relaxed her ringed muscles he drove a little deeper. His growl curled around her and then in one fluid movement he was inside her. Moisture sealed their bodies as one and his breathing turned ragged against her ear.
“You okay?” he asked.
She moved against him, answering his question. He pressed a kiss to her neck before he began pumping into her, the lubricant making it easy for him to slide in and out. His tension mounted and she knew he was teetering on the edge as he settled his hands on her hips. Wanting to make this even better for him, she went up on her knees. He followed her up, and she could feel a shudder overtake him.
“I’m there baby. You got me right fucking there.”
She pushed against him, and he leaned down and slipped a hand around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer.
Her breath hitched as he plunged hungrily, moving urgently over her body as he chased his own orgasm. His cock jolted inside her. He pounded once, twice, then stilled inside her. He growled deep and a moment later, she felt that first sweet pulse of his release. He fell over her and his lashes brushed her flesh as he bit down on her shoulder, not hard enough to break skin, but definitely hard enough to leave his mark.
“Emery,” he whispered into her ear, and everything in the way her name rolled of his tongue brought them to an even deeper level of intimacy.
Still trying to catch her breath, she couldn’t answer him. All she could do was whimper. Luke pulled out of her and then flipped her over. Gray eyes full of tender concern moved over her.
“Hey,” he said. “You okay?”
She touched his cheek and when she smiled the worry left his eyes.
He raked his fingers through her hair. “I thought I hurt you.” His fingers trailed over her arm and he shifted closer. As he pressed against her, it occurred to her that giving herself to him like this felt more intimate than anything they’d ever done. He pressed a kiss to her mouth and a riot of emotions rushed through her, but she quickly tamped them down.
He pulled her toward him, and gave her a light whack on the ass. “Come on.” Jumping from the bed, he reached for her hand.
“Can we at least wait until my legs stop shaking?”
He laughed and scooped her up.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“Shower, then I’m going to introduce you to some of my culinary skills.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as he carried her down the narrow hall. They reached his small bathroom and he set her on the counter as he adjusted the spray. A moment later they were both inside, taking turns to wash each other’s bodies. Luke took extra care between her legs, touching her with gentle hands.
She looked at the man who was taking such good care of her and knew there was so much more to him than met the eye. She saw a side of him today that touched something deep inside her. And the way he was with Jeremy, going out of his way to take him to the compound and the center, was the kindest sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her.
She looked at him as he soaped her up, taking in his rugged features, the tattoos on his lethal body, the scars on his flesh—the mouth that kissed her with intense passion. Good God, if she wasn’t careful she could easily fall for him. But she knew better than to expect more and she could only imagine what her father would say if he ever found out his daughter was having an affair with the guy he’d sent to juvie. The more she thought about that, the more she realized that Luke didn’t seem like the kind of guy to steal. Then again, maybe, like Trent, he had a reason. Maybe he needed the food to help feed his family. But did that make it right? An uneasy feeling formed in her stomach. Even still, if he was trying to feed his family, was putting him in juvie for the rest of his teenage years the right thing to do?
I believe in second chances.
As she thought about the words she’d heard from him more than once, she ran her soapy fingers over his stomach, and even though she knew it wasn’t wise, she couldn’t help but want to know more.
“Luke.”
“Yeah.”
“Who was the girl going into the coffee shop?” His hand closed over hers and tightened. When he didn’t answer, she asked, “Was it your sister?”
He nodded.
“She’s very pretty.”
Luke shifted toward the spray, turning his body slightly away from hers. “She looks like our mother.”
“You mother must be beautiful.”
“She was.”
Was?
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
He dunked his head under the spray and it poured down his face. “It was a long time ago.”
“I lost my mom too.”
“I know.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.”
Luke grabbed her and turned her around so the spray washed the rest of the soap from her body. “What about your dad? Is he still alive?” she asked.
At the mention of his dad, his entire body went rigid, and she knew she’d hit a sore spot.
“No, he’s gone too.”
“So it’s just you and your sister.”
Luke reached behind her and turned off the water. “Yeah, but Allison and I don’t really speak.”
She listened to the sound of his throat working as he swallowed, and knew there was way more going on than he was telling her. “That’s kind of sad.”
He grabbed a towel from his rack and wrapped it around her, then tied one at his waist. “It is what it is.”
“When did you two stop speaking?” she pressed as she followed him back to his bedroom.
At the door he stopped and turned to her. “I don’t really think we should do this, okay?”
“Why? Why does it upset you so much to talk about her?”
He braced his hands on the top of the doorframe, and exhaled slowly. “Because I pushed her out of my life and hurt her.”
“Oh,” she said for lack of anything else. “I’m sorry.”
He just stood there for a moment, his eyes focused on something over her shoulders, like he was a million miles away. “A girl needs her father,” he whispered and she wondered if he even knew he’d spoken out loud. She took in the tension in his body, the muscles rippling along his jaw.
“I’m not sure what happened, Luke, but from what I know about you, you’re a guy to give second chances and I just bet your sister is too.”
Something in him seemed to give, break, and the vulnerability she caught on his face nearly took the wind right out of her.
He put his hands on her shoulders. “But what if she’s not. What if she looks me in the face and tells me to leave her alone.” He gave a hard shake of his head. “I couldn’t handl
e that, Emery. I just couldn’t. I saw that hurt look once—I goddamn well put it on her face—and I can’t see it again.” He swallowed, hard, then continued, “I’m better off keeping my distance and watching her from afar.”
“Oh, Luke. I’m so sorry.”
His arms wrapped around her and he held her so tight she could barely draw air. Realizing she was probably seeing a side of him that he’d never shown another, and how hard that must be for him, she couldn’t help but want to do something to help him mend his relationship with his sister. But the last thing she wanted to do was overstep boundaries in a sex-only affair.
Deciding it was time to change the subject, because she’d clearly pushed him too far, she said, “So about those culinary skills. If they’re anything like your bedroom skills, then I guess I’m in for a real treat.” She reached down and gave him a whack on the ass.
He pulled back and looked at her. Understanding arced between them when their eyes met, and he gave her a small grateful smile.
Her towel slipped and his mood instantly changed. “I’m not sure we’re going to make it to the kitchen anytime soon, sunshine.”
“If I don’t get to work, I could get fired. My boss is a real dragon.”
“Really.” He dipped his head, his mouth inches from hers. “I bet I could sweet talk her into letting you stay and play a little longer. In fact, I bet there are a lot of things I could talk her into doing.”
She laughed. “Of that I have no doubt. So far you’ve gotten your way with her. But I really do need to go.” She planted her hands on her hips, and frowned. “And I’m wondering what I’m supposed to wear.”
His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“You ripped the buttons off my blouse, remember?”
He gave her a sheepish look. “Oh, right.” Heat moved into his eyes like he was remembering every last detail, and he brushed her nipples through the cotton towel.
“Luke,” she said, moaning. “You’re turning me into a nymphomaniac.”
He inched the towel down and wrapped his hot mouth around one hard nub. “There are worse things you could be,” he said after a thorough taste.
“Oh yeah, like what?” she asked, as her hands went to his shoulders. She touched him lightly and he trembled.
“Oh, like you could be one of those unhappy guards at Buckingham Palace.” His mouth curved. “Or better yet, a sex slave…mine to do with as I please.”
She leaned into him, losing herself in his touch all over again. “I think I already am that.” She heard Rex’s nails on the floor, and the sound helped pull her back.
“You’re a bad influence.” Even though her pussy was clenching, she shoved him through the door and went in search of her clothes. She pulled on her panties, jeans and bra and listened to Luke shuffle into his own clothes. When she turned back to him he handed her one of his T-shirts.
“Will this work for now?”
She pulled it on and Luke’s eyes dropped to her chest. “What is it about a girl in a guy’s shirt that is so sexy.” He walked toward her. “Jesus Christ. We’re never going to get out of here.”
His mouth found hers and he kissed her deeply. “One more time, sunshine. I’ll make it fast, then I’ll make you something to eat and take you back to work before your boss ever finds out you’re gone.”
His cock pressed against her midriff and she sagged against him. There was just no way she could ignore the heat between them. Maybe one more time would finally sate her need for him. “Well when you put it like that.”
He unhooked her button and quickly dragged her pants down her legs and discarded them. Once he had her half naked, he unzipped and pulled out his cock, not bothering to remove their shirts or take his pants off all the way. He quickly sheathed himself, backed her up against his wall, lifted her onto his hips and drove into her.
“Ah, Jesus,” he growled, his cock throbbing so hard inside her. “I just can’t enough of you.”
He fucked her hard against the wall, but as he did, she was suddenly sure that no matter how many times he took her nothing could sate the restless ache between her thighs. No man fucked like Luke. With such passion, energy and vigor. He was simply incredible and she had no idea how she could ever be with another man after him.
“Luke,” she cried out, clawing at the back of his shirt as he drove deep. The air around them grew heavy, both of them panting hard as the tension mounted. He grunted, and brushed his pelvis over her clit, pushing her over the edge in record time.
“Oh, God,” she cried out as she creamed all over his cock.
He slammed her against the wall, and stilled as the pictures rattled. “Fuck,” he bit out as he buried his mouth in the hollow of her neck and released inside her.
A strange, strangled noise crawled out of her throat and she couldn’t help but laugh. This was so crazy, so insane.
“What?” he asked through labored breaths.
“That was…”
“I know,” he said in a teasing voice. “I was awesome.” He let her legs slide down his and when she hit the floor, he gave her ass a whack and said, “Now no more talk about being my sex slave or we’ll seriously never get out of here.”
She tugged her jeans back on as he tucked his cock in, and as she looked at him, and then herself, it occurred to her that they both had that well-fucked look about them. She wondered if anyone else would pick up on that.
“Let’s eat. I’m starving. Are you ready for the Phillips special?”
She smiled. “I thought I just had that.”
“That was just the sampler,” he teased in return.
They left the bedroom, and after taking care of Rex, Luke met her in his small kitchen. He grabbed a few things from his fridge and like a typical guy—even though she was learning he was anything but—he whipped up scrambled eggs and toast. But she had to admit, it was the best afternoon meal she’d ever tasted. Probably because she didn’t have to make it herself and she was starved from all the great sex.
A half hour later they were on his bike. He stopped at her place so she could change her top, then he took her to the market.
She couldn’t seem to wipe the silly, sex-sated grin off her face as he parked his bike and followed her in to the store, insisting he had to check on a few things. He went one way while she went to her office to go over last week’s numbers and this week’s deliveries and work schedules.
She stopped midstride when she saw a bouquet of flowers on her desk. Her heart leapt, and she instantly assumed Luke had sent them. Heavy footsteps heralded his approach and when she turned and caught the hard look on Luke’s face, her smile fell.
“Who are they from?” he asked, his jaw clenched tight.
“Oh, I thought…” Her glance went from Luke, to the flowers, back to Luke again. She walked across the room and grabbed the card.
“Let me guess. Lane?”
She looked up at him, and once again she caught that dark haunted look in his eyes as he stared down at her.
Chapter Eight
“You okay, boss man?” Colt asked as Luke stared at the surveillance cameras from inside the van. He looked over last night’s records, noting that the back service door had been opened around midnight. The system wasn’t set up to take snapshots yet, but he wondered if it was a glitch in the wiring or if Emery had come back to the store after closing up.
“Yeah,” he said. “I just need to set up the camera on the back door right away.” He shot Colt a glance. “Did you finish wiring the monitors in Emery’s office?”
Just saying her name out loud had the strangest effect on him. Emery. Sweet Emery who’d let him do all kinds of wild things to her every night for the last week. Emery who’d opened her body to him, trusting him in a way she’d never trusted another. He had no idea why that was so important to him, or why he desperately needed to take her…everywhere. All he knew was that he had to. In the heat of the moment last weekend, leaving his mark on her had become more important than brea
thing. Then after sex he turned around and told her about his sister. What the hell? Besides with a couple of his closest comrades he never opened up to anyone about Allison.
“Yup, everything should be set to go,” Colt said.
Luke nodded, and turned back to his monitors. His glance went to Emery as she walked past one of the cameras and a rush of sexual energy hit him hard. She was so goddamn sexy, it damn near killed him to see her and not be able to touch her. After their wild weekend in bed, he’s spent just about every night with her, despite the flowers he’d found on her desk. Flowers that were like a kick in the balls and reminded him that not only should he not be fucking her, he shouldn’t be sharing past hurts. They were different people who had no future together, and if he knew what was good for him, he would be backing the hell off.
But damned if his cock cared anything about that.
For some strange reason, it touched him on a deeper level when she opened up to him about her brother. He suspected it was a difficult thing for her to do. And in turn he found himself bringing her and her brother into his world where he showed them the dog training compound and the community center.
One thing he was happy about doing, however, was putting a stop to her delivering bread to the homeless at night and instead setting up a meeting at the end of the day through the back service doors.
He glanced at his watch. In a few short hours, he’d be checking out for the weekend, and damned if he didn’t want to go to Sky Bar for a couple of cold ones and to get his head on straight where Emery was concerned. But first he needed to talk to her about the back door and find out if she was at the market after hours.
She walked by again, and his cock twitched. There was no denying that he wanted her again. In fact, he wanted to walk into her office, bend her over her desk and take her good and fucking hard right now.
He exited the van and walked inside. Moving with purpose, he made his way back to her office and found her frowning as she looked over data on her computer. She glanced up, like she sensed his presence.